I'm having HDD problems.

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marcustarpey

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Jul 16, 2014
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why won't my pc get past the cursor with my old Windows Vista 32 bit when I was running Windows 7 64 bit, despite booting from it.
Thanks.
 
Solution
hang-the-9
Still can't quite make out what is going on, but what you did with buying the computer and with buying the cheap Dell OEM Win 7 disk was wrong.
The reason you were getting invalid Windows on the first system is because the seller either did not enter a Windows code, or used a hack to extend the trial time, or used an already used or blacklisted code. Either way, it was not a legal setup.

The cheap Windows 7 keys you see on ebay are also for the most part illegal. You can only use them on an OEM Dell system that those disks came with.

Now from what I can make out, you tried to use a hard drive from another computer in yours, which won't work. You need to purchase a LEGAL Windows 7 disk and key (say Windows 7 Home OEM which is...
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marcustarpey

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Please bear with me (I am 60 and have the big 'C')

I (rather stupidly - I think) bought a home PC from an Ebay shop that has since gone bust and as it was towards the end of 2013 there's no chance of getting a refund.
It was supposed to be new with a WD 640 gig Hard-Drive running Windows 7 Ultimate and a Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 4870 Graphics card, after some weeks I got messages saying that my copy of windows was not genuine - but apart from these annoying messages it ran great, when I looked this error message up on 'Google' I found this was infact a common error.
Now I think the tower PC was a home made item, I looked for an 'COA' (when I found out what that was), but there wasn't one, I also got another error message (I cant remember what) and the PC went into some kind of fix but it stopped for hours at 23%. So I made an offer on a disc with a very brief description of why I needed it (again eBay) which was excepted but the gentleman e-mailed me back and said he would give me a 'Brand new Dell disc Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit with a New COA' from STAR PRODUCTS (very kind of them) FOC.

I have inserted my new Dell Windows 7 Ultimate - still no luck.

I connected my win vista 32 bit to my newest PC and unplugged the other hard drive (win 7 ultimate 64 bit).
Question. Will the hard drive that has win vista 32 bit on it have altered the bios or anything else on my latest PC (win 7 64 bit)............ Now here's the reason I ask:

I cant get my newest PC to fire up past the opening screen that says 'Intel'.
I have tried to select the Drive for the hard disk (F10) - Nothing, I have also tried to select the 'run from CD' with my New disc - again Nothing.
Q. How do I get 'My Documents/Pictures/Music of my WD 640 gig Sata, this is quite important as I haven't 'Backed everything up'
Can anybody please, please help me as I will loose some of my contacts from around the world along with documents I held concerning 'our condition'

I have just seen a post from i7Baby:
(Can you post your build? - list every component in your PC by make and model)

Welllllllllllllll,
I really don't know how to do this (daft I suppose - but like I said, I am 60 with the big 'C') I'v followed i7Baby's link from yesterday (http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems) and re-started last night, I have followed it to the letter, checked and re-checked everything, but still no luck.
It still wont fire up past the 'Intel' screen with the options for F2 (bios) and F10 (boot). I have tried to select the hard-drive and the CD as first boot but it seems to always go to the Graphics card (Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 4870)

Does this mean:
I have a corrupt motherboard? or my original hard-drive is is damaged, or something else.
Q. Should I buy a Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB, 1TB (HD103SJ) Hard Drive. Would this read my new Windows 7 Ultimate Sp1 WITH a COA
I have already bought a SERIAL ATA SATA I II IDE HARD DRIVE to USB 2.0 CABLE ADAPTER CONVERTER for PC or LAPTOP in the hope that I can retrieve my Documents/Pictures/Music was this a good idea?
Many thanks for all you help
Marcus

 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

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Mar 25, 2010
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Still can't quite make out what is going on, but what you did with buying the computer and with buying the cheap Dell OEM Win 7 disk was wrong.
The reason you were getting invalid Windows on the first system is because the seller either did not enter a Windows code, or used a hack to extend the trial time, or used an already used or blacklisted code. Either way, it was not a legal setup.

The cheap Windows 7 keys you see on ebay are also for the most part illegal. You can only use them on an OEM Dell system that those disks came with.

Now from what I can make out, you tried to use a hard drive from another computer in yours, which won't work. You need to purchase a LEGAL Windows 7 disk and key (say Windows 7 Home OEM which is fine), then install that disk with that key on the computer. To keep your files, you can get a new drive and install Windows on that and use your existing drive as a secondary.
 
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Solution
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marcustarpey

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Jul 16, 2014
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4,630


 
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marcustarpey

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Jul 16, 2014
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Dear Sir/Madam (Hang-the-9)
I now accept that the Hard-Disk that had Windows 7 already on it was not a legal setup, but I can assure you that the 'Microsoft messages' that suddenly appeared took weeks to show up, therefore I suspect that the 'shop' that I bought it from had as you say "used a hack to extend the trial time"
May I just explain and ask a few questions of you.
1) This was supposed to be an ex Dell in a new case.
2) After my new PC broke down, I tried to fire it up using my original hard-drive running a Genuine version of Windows Vista Home Edition, yet it would still not boot, despite selecting the F2 (bios) or the F10 (Boot) from Hard-Drive. It seems to keep going to the Graphics card a 'Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 4870'
3) I am not a gamer - except with an Xbox 360. But I do use some memory intensive software IE. Excel, word etc.
4) Could you please suggest a better Graphics card? compatible with my Motherboard an: Intel DG41RQ
5) Should I buy a Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB, 1TB (HD103SJ) Hard Drive. and is it compatible with my Motherboard. Would this read a 'Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate Sp1 WITH a COA'
6) I have already bought a SERIAL ATA SATA I II IDE HARD DRIVE to USB 2.0 CABLE ADAPTER CONVERTER for PC or LAPTOP will this help retrieve my Documents/Pictures/Music?

Many thanks for your excellent answer.

Marcus.
 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

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Mar 25, 2010
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1. no way to tell without looking at the motherboard and either way, the Dell OEM disk are tied to the system they were with originally. You can't move them to another system.
2. You will probably need to do a repair install of Vista to get it to boot
4. If you have a Radeon 4870 that is more than good enough to run things, even games.
5. The Spinpoint series is a good drive, I use one. It will run fine on any motherboard with a SATA connection and they don't care what you install on them, so will run Windows 7 fine. I would not use that 7 Ultimate though unless you bought it directly from Microsoft or in a retail box.
6. The external drive connector you can use to get your data from the old drive.

You need to contact the ebay seller you got the Dell disk from for a return, and get a Windows 7 disk yourself, with a real license. The OEM versions are cheaper but come with a restriction of no MS support and you can't move the license to another computer. Will be under 100. Windows 7 Home is plenty, Ultimate is a waste for most people and every time I see someone that installed Ultimate, it was with an illegal key or hacked setup. I just bought a laptop a few week ago, guy installed Win 7 Ultimate, and sure enough it said the license was invalid a few days later even though it was listed as Activated when I got it. Luckily I have a bunch of Windows 7 Pro licenses so that was not an issue for me.
 
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marcustarpey

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Jul 16, 2014
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marcustarpey

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Jul 16, 2014
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Many, many thank-you's 'Hang-the-9'
That has answered all of my questions, except I forgot a couple, no, I promise just 3.

My new PC has an 'Evo Lab's Model No:500CB PSU that I would like to put in my older PC.
Q1) What power supply unit would be a better one for me?
Q2) I would like to fit my older machine which has Windows Vista Home Basic Service Pack 2 (build 6002) in it with a Mother-Board by Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5L-VM 1394 Rev 1.xx the Bus Clock is: 200 megahertz and the BIOS is: American Megatrends Inc. 0702. Would that be OK.
and finally:
Q3) Why wont my new PC boot up past the 'Intel Sign'. I've used F2 (Bios) and F10 (Boot) and selected the correct drives for both the CD and the Hard drive but seems to always go back to the Radeon 4870 - Thats it.

Very Many Thanks for getting back to me - you already helped me a lot.
Marcus
 
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